VA Home Care Program Is a Cost-Beneficial Alternative to Institutional Care and Should Be Expanded
HRD-81-72
Published: Apr 27, 1981. Publicly Released: Apr 27, 1981.
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Highlights
Home health care is generally recognized as a beneficial and cost-effective alternative to prolonged hospital and nursing home care. GAO reviewed the Veterans Administration's (VA) hospital-based home care program. The objective of the review was to evaluate the program's effectiveness as an alternative to institutional medical care and its potential for expansion.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to provide the hospital-based home care program with adequate funding so that it can be expanded. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to develop guidelines that assure more uniformity and consistency among individual home care programs. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to identify the number of veterans in VA medical facilities who are suitable for home care placement. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to conduct periodic program evaluations to assure that individual home care programs are carried out in accordance with agency policy and program objectives. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to clearly define the objectives of the VA home care program, emphasizing the cost benefits as a primary goal, and convey the objectives to all medical centers. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Topics
Cost effectiveness analysisHealth care programsHome health care servicesProgram evaluationProgram managementVeterans hospitalsPatient careHealth centersVeteransHome health care